Fifth grade student Agriculture Essay Contest Sponsored by Jefferson County Farm Bureau

Debbie Snapp, ECB Publishing, Inc.

Jefferson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) held a pizza party and awards ceremony for the fifth grade students that participated in the Agricultural Essay Contest. JCFB members in attendance at Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) and Community Leadership Academy (CLA) included: Sarah and Ernest Fulford, Sean Allen and Melissa Bass.
The JCFB feels strongly that children need to know just how important food production is to the state and nation.
Many children living in rural north Florida have some insight into how and why food is grown on farms and ranches, but not all do.
The JCFB believes this is a strong nation with a strong form of government and strong willed people, and that this country is strong because of its ability to feed itself and still be able to ship much food to less productive countries.
There are far too many children, even in rural areas, with neither the knowledge nor the appreciation for agriculture.
Because JCFB feels that education is vitally important to the future success of this state and nation, its membership decided to reach out to as many fifth graders as possible with this special contest.
The students were encouraged to do their own research, and come up with their own themes and ideas. They were asked to write a 100-word paper, composition, essay, or mini-term paper, on the subject: “Why is Agriculture Important to America?” The paper was to be done in the student’s absolute best hand-writing, and was completed by the student during school classroom time.
Judging was based on neatness, originality, composition and subject matter. All participating fifth graders competed against each other at their school.
Reagan Walker was Overall/First Place winner at ACA, receiving $20. Joshua Forehand was Second Place winner at ACA, receiving $15. Charles Hughs was Third Place winner at ACA, receiving $10.
Ty Meadows was Overall/First Place winner at CLA, receiving $20. Annabel Duck was Second Place winner at CLA, receiving $15. Peter Boulware was Third Place winner at CLA, receiving $10.